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Financially Independent Students

The Traditional application for financially independent students is our most complex residency application. Use this application when a parent does not live in Washington state, and the student is not eligible using one of the easier options listed below. Compare the different residency applications. Take a Residency Quiz to see if you can use a different application.

Faster ways to apply for residency

Residency Affidavit. This application is preferred when the student has lived in Washington at least 12 months before starting college or took 6 credits or less during the 12 months prior to the term.
Financially Dependent residency. If a parent, step-parent, or legal guardian lives in Washington, filing as financially dependent can be faster and easier than proving financial independence.

Requirements

Residency for tuition purposes requires these actions:

  • Overcome Presumption. Move to Washington state for reasons other than education*, AND
  • Establish a domicile. Surrender previous state documents and obtain Washington documents, including state ID (REQUIRED), within 30 days, AND
  • Wait 12 months* from the date of moving to Washington, AND
  • Meet the financially independent requirements, AND
  • Apply for residency for tuition purposes and provide supporting documents.

*Students receiving the WUE/Cougar Award are presumed to be in the state for higher education purposes and may not use the time that they were receiving the WUE towards the 12 month waiting period.

Overcome presumption

Domicile requirement

The 12 month waiting period & last date of action

Financial independence requirement

Immigration status

Supporting Documents: Domicile

WA Identification - REQUIRED

Immigration documents

Housing documentation

WA Vehicle registration

WA Voter registration

Supporting Documents: Financial Independence

Financial independence documents

Federal taxes - Parent information

Federal taxes - Student information

Links & Resources

Students 25 years of age or older

If you were at least 25 years of age for the entire academic year prior to submitting the residency questionnaire, you do not need to prove financial independence unless there is evidence that you did not pay at least 51% of the estimated Cost of Attendance as described for students under 25 years of age or that someone else did pay 49% or more of the estimated cost of attendance.

You must meet all other residency criteria and must obtain all Washington state documents 11 months prior to the first day of term you are seeking residency.

Financially Independent Students
Residency for Tuition